TRENTON — In a shaky compromise that threatens to further divide the state along geographic lines, the Senate president introduced a bill today allowing Rutgers University to take over the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark and merge Rowan University with Rutgers-Camden.

From the time Gov. Chris Christie unveiled his plan in January to revamp the state’s colleges and medical facilities, a heated debate raged from one end of the state to the other and engulfed the state’s most powerful political players — from the powerboker George Norcross and Mayor Cory Booker of Newark to U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg and Senate President Stephen Sweeney.

But the dispute is far from over. While the South Jersey schools would be granted sweeping autonomy, control over Newark’s institutions would be handed over to Rutgers’ governing boards in New Brunswick.

"I think we are headed for a political civil war," state Sen. Ron Rice (D-Essex) said. "We are not going to take this laying down. We are armed and ready for a fight if that’s what George Norcross and Sweeney want to do."

The compromise emerged two days before the Rutgers Board of Trustees — on record as overwhelmingly against the original plan — and the more influential Board of Governors were both expected to weigh in on whether to cede control of the two satellite campuses.

Essex County lawmakers were already angered by Christie’s plan to turn UMDNJ’s medical schools in New Brunswick over to Rutgers, fearing that without those money-making institutions, the remaining pieces of UMDNJ in Newark, along with University Hospital, would wither and die.

But now Sweeney (D-Gloucester) and two Senate co-sponsors — Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex) and Donald Norcross (D-Camden) — want Rutgers to absorb all of UMDNJ with the exception of University Hospital, which would be managed by private health-care provider.

At the other end of the state, Rutgers-Camden would cut its historical ties to the university system and merge with Rowan University — though the two schools would retain their names, some form of self-goverance and issue their own diplomas.

The compromise at once tries to deliver a political victory for Norcross, who has a stake in Rowan’s future, as well as appease students, educators and alumni of Rutgers-Camden, who feared the demise of the institution and its law school.

The introduction of the measure was viewed by some as a milestone in an ambitious effort that appeared to be in serious trouble last week. Sweeney had vowed to introduce a bill by June 1 to meet a July 1 deadline set by Christie, but then backed off as he got bogged down in details and debate.

"Governor Christie applauds Senate President Sweeney’s leadership to move the university reorganization forward for the benefit of all of New Jersey," a spokesman for Christie, Michael Drewniak said last night. "This is a critical and positive step, and the governor looks forward to working together to achieve this reorganization by June 30."

State Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate, noted that the plan is far different than the one introduced by the governor because the sponsors listejned to everyone’s concerns and "showed a willingness to compromise." Weinberg said.

"Hopefully the governor will do the same," Weinberg said.

In a statement, Rutgers President Richard McCormick said the bill "appears to advance the goals of enhancing medical education across the state, boosting Rutgers’ standing among its peer institutions and fueling New Jersey’s economic engine."

Under the bill, a new Rutgers-Newark Board of Governors would serve in an advisory capacity.

At the Camden campus, state appropriations and tuition — which now goes to New Brunswick — would be allocated to and managed by administrators in Camden and a new seven-member board with the authority to set tuition rates as well as hire and promote faculty. Rowan, situated in nearby Glassboro, would be designated a research institution.

The two campuses would be overseen by a joint governing board empowered to develop shared curriculums, decide what capital projects should be undertaken and have veto power over decisions made at either school.

Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex), who was heading up the Essex County delegation’s efforts to at a compromise, offered tepid support of the bill today.

"I am sure that all parties will continue to work toward creating a statewide higher education system that will benefit everyone," Oliver said.